18 Effects of Meningitis on the Body Joint Pain 18 Effects of Meningitis on the Body Meningitis is swelling of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. There are different types of meningitis, but most are caused by viruses or bacteria. Viral meningitis can make you very sick, but it often doesn’t leave lingering effects. Bacterial meningitis is more serious. It progresses rapidly and can cause permanent damage or even become life-threatening. Quick diagnosis and treatment can help prevent some of the potential long-term side effects. If you have symptoms of meningitis, see your doctor without delay. Anyone can get meningitis, but it’s more common in babies, children, and adolescents. Central Nervous System The central nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Meningitis is an infection that causes the protective membranes of the nervous system to swell. Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord can affect every part of your body. Fever and other symptoms can come on suddenly and progress very quickly, causing devastating effects. Headache can be an early warning sign of meningitis. Residual headaches may be a problem for some time.

Inflammation of the brain can cause a wide range of problems, including cognitive issues and seizures. Trouble with memory and concentration may last well after the illness has passed. Children may be left with lingering learning difficulties. Swelling in the brain can also interfere with the senses. It can cause ringing in the ears (tinnitus), partial hearing loss, or deafness. It may cause speech problems. Light sensitivity, eye pain, and loss of vision are possible. Inflammation and fever can cause loss of appetite. Sick stomach, nausea, and vomiting are common. Infants and young children may become fussy, irritable, and difficult to comfort. And excessive sleepiness is a symptom of meningitis, so it may be hard to wake a sleeping child. Untreated, meningitis can lead to coma. Poor coordination, dizziness, and clumsiness may remain for some time after a bout with meningitis. Children may have emotional problems following the illness, including clinginess, moodiness, and sleep disturbances. Diagnostic testing may include brain imaging and spinal fluid analysis (spinal tap). Circulatory System As bacteria multiply in your bloodstream, they may release toxins (septicemia). Septicemia is a life- threatening condition.

Bleeding under the skin starts off looking like a mild rash. As blood pressure falls and circulation slows, blood vessels become damaged. The rash spreads and darkens to a deep red or dark purple. The lungs and kidneys may deteriorate, and poor circulation puts the fingers, toes, arms, and legs at risk of amputation. Diagnostic testing may include analyzing the blood for evidence of bacteria. If hospitalized, intravenous fluids, steroids, or antibiotics may be given as part of your treatment. Skin (Integumentary System) With the onset of fever, the skin may look flushed. If septicemia sets in and blood vessels become damaged, you’ll see evidence on the skin. At first, your skin may just look a little blotchy. You might mistake symptoms of septicemia for tiny scratches or a minor rash. The rash can appear anywhere on the body. As the infection worsens, the rash spreads and gets darker, eventually resembling large bruises. In some cases, the rash can cause permanent scarring. The “glass test” can be used to test for meningitis. If you press a drinking glass against a rash, it should fade. If it’s meningitis, you’ll still be able to view the rash clearly through the glass.

Keep in mind that the glass test isn’t 100 percent accurate. It’s best to check with your doctor. Skeletal and Muscular Systems Stiff neck and back are common in meningitis. It may become difficult to turn your neck at all. In severe cases, the head, neck, and spine become painfully rigid and arched (opisthotonos). Babies and young children are more likely to experience opisthotonos than older people. A baby with meningitis may produce a high-pitched scream when you try to pick them up. Joint stiffness may continue long after the illness clears up, and arthritis can also be an after effect. For infants, a tight or bulging fontanel (the soft spot on top of a baby’s head) is a sign of inflammation of the brain. If your infant shows this symptom, seek medical attention immediately. Muscle weakness is a common symptom of meningitis, both during the illness and in the months that follow. Muscle spasms, body aches, or generalized weakness in some parts of the body may occur. Recommended for You Video: Meningitis Awareness Meningitis is a rare but very serious condition that results from a bacterial infection.

It usually causes swelling and inflammation in the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord. How does meningitis affect the body? - Brain & Nervous System - Sharecare How does meningitis affect the body? Topics | Brain and Nervous System | How does meningitis affect the body? A Answers (1) A Honor Society of Nursing (STTI) answered The effect meningitis has on the body can differ depending upon your age, health, and the severity and cause of the meningitis. In infants, rashes, seizures, vomiting and fever are just some of the physical effects of meningitis. The fontanelles may appear bulging or firm due to increased pressure of the fluid around the brain. The nerves of the eyes or face may be affected, causing an eye to turn in or the face to appear lopsided. In young people and adults, you may see a rise in bodily temperature, increased sensitivity to light, confusion, fever, and tightness in the neck muscles; in some cases, pressure on the brain will cause vomiting or swelling. Meningitis, even when treated, can be a life threatening illness. Helpful? This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view.

It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs. Videos (6) Brain and Nervous System A healthy brain and nervous system regulate your body functions so you can have full command over your senses, muscles, and intelligence. Despite the amazing capacities of the human brain and nerves, they are vulnerable to damage just like every other part of our bodies. Strokes, concussions, Alzheimers and many other brain problems affect about 50 million Americans. The multitude of brain injuries and illnesses strike different people based on the risk factors of their genetics, age and lifestyle. The severity of impairment and the availability of treatment vary widely. Knowledge of brain and nerve health has advanced rapidly in recent decades. Many new treatments and medicines are available to treat various disorders. Still, the best thing for your brain is to keep it physically and mentally active while eating nutritious food and getting plenty of social interaction. Brain and Nervous System Q&As Meningitis - body, last, viral, contagious, causes, What Is Meningitis?

Meningitis Meningitis Photo by: icholakov Meningitis (meh-nin-JY-tis) is an inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and the spinal cord (the meninges, meh-NIN-jeez). Meningitis is most often caused by infection with a virus or a bacterium. KEYWORDS for searching the Internet and other reference sources Coxsackieviruses Vaccinations What Is Meningitis? Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that enclose and protect the brain and the spinal cord. It is usually caused by infection, most often with viruses or bacteria. Meningitis caused by bacteria is known as septic meningitis. Meningitis caused by other organisms, including viruses, fungi, and parasites, is called aseptic (a-SEP-tik) meningitis. Viral meningitis is the most common and mildest form of the disease, and most people fully recover from it without complications. Bacterial meningitis, if not diagnosed early, can cause serious and sometimes fatal complications.

Enteroviruses, a group of viruses that includes several strains of coxsackieviruses (kok-SAH-kee-vy-ruh-sez) and echoviruses, cause about 90 percent of cases of aseptic meningitis. Two types of bacteria that are most likely to cause septic meningitis are Streptococcus pneumoniae (strep-tuh-KAH-kus nu-MO-nye) and Neisseria meningitidis (nye-SEER-e-uh meh-nin-JIH-tih-dis), also called meningococcus (meh-NIN-guh-kah-kus). Before the introduction of a vaccine * in the 1980s to prevent infection with Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), the bacterium was a common cause of septic meningitis in young children. Meningitis can be caused by other pathogens * as well, such as some species of parasites and fungi and the bacteria that cause Lyme disease * , tuberculosis * , and syphilis * .

Meningitis from these organisms is usually a complication of widespread infection throughout the body and is more likely to be seen in people who have immune problems or other diseases, such as those with AIDS * or cancer. Sometimes, chemical irritations, severe drug allergies, or tumors can lead to inflammation in the central nervous system * , resulting in meningitis. * vaccine (vak-SEEN) is a preparation of killed or weakened germs. or a part of a germ or product it produces, given to prevent or lessen the severity of the disease that can result if a person is exposed to the germ itself. Use of vaccines for this purpose is called immunization. * pathogens (PAH-tho-jens) are microorganisms that can cause disease in another living organism. * Lyme (LIME) disease is a bacterial infection that is spread to humans by the bite of an infected tick. It begins with a distinctive rash and/or flulike symptoms and, in some cases, can progress to a more serious disease with complications affecting other body organs. * tuberculosis (too-ber-kyoo-LO-sis) is a bacterial infection that primarily attacks the lungs but can spread to other ports of the body.

* syphilis (SIH-fih-lis) is a sexually transmitted disease that, if untreated, can lead to serious lifelong problems throughout the body, including blindness and paralysis. How Common Is Meningitis? Bacterial meningitis, especially meningococcal meningitis, sometimes occurs in epidemics * in underdeveloped parts of the world, but epidemics are less common in the United States. Because of vaccinations (vak-sih-NAY-shunz) against some of the bacteria that can cause meningitis, the overall number of cases of septic meningitis has steadily declined since 1990. Vaccinated infants and young children are much less likely to contract bacterial meningitis. However, since the late 1990s there has been an increase in the number of cases of meningococcus infection The rate of incidence of Hib-related disease, such as meningitis, decreased dramatically since Hib vaccination programs were started in 1989. Source:National Institute of Allergy and infectious Diseases seen in young adults, particularly in college students who live in dormitories. How Does Meningitis Spread?

Some forms of bacterial meningitis are contagious, but these are not easily spread (compared to germs that cause colds and the flu). Bacterial meningitis almost never results from simply being in the same room or building with someone who has meningitis. Only a small fraction of people who come in contact with these bacteria and viruses will actually develop meningitis. Bacteria that can cause meningitis are sometimes found in the throats and noses of healthy people. They are spread through direct contact with respiratory secretions (drops of fluid from the mouth, nose, or lungs). This means they can be passed to someone who kisses an infected person or to someone who touches the secretions from someone who is sneezing or coughing and then touches his or her own nose or mouth. Meningococcus can spread in this way through households, daycare centers, and college dormitories. * AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency (ih-myoo-no-dih-FIH-shen-see) syndrome, is an infection that severely weakens the immune system; it is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). * central nervous system is the part of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord.

* epidemics (eh-pih-DEH-miks) are outbreaks of diseases, especially infectious diseases, in which the number of cases suddenly becomes far greater than usual. Usually, epidemics are outbreaks of diseases in specific regions. whereas worldwide epidemics are called pandemics. Enteroviruses commonly are passed from person to person through contact with respiratory secretions, by breathing in drops from someone who is coughing or sneezing, and from contact with an infected person's feces (FEE-seez, or bowel movements). What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Meningitis? Symptoms of meningitis often include fever, headache, stiff neck and back, photophobia (painful sensitivity of the eyes to light), abnormal sleepiness, and confusion. Vomiting may also be seen. Infants' symptoms are not as specific as those in older children and adults but usually include irritability, lethargy, poor feeding, crying when moved, and vomiting. Infants may not have neck or back stiffness while ill with meningitis. Meningococcus can cause a reddish-purple rash (from bleeding under the skin) that rapidly spreads over the body. Seizures * can occur in anyone with meningitis, regardless of age.

How Is Meningitis Diagnosed and Treated? A doctor will first ask questions about the illness, do a physical examination, and then perform some tests. The brain is sometimes viewed with a computerized tomography * (CT) scan to rule out other reasons for severe headache and illness, such as an abscess * , tumor, or other problems within the brain. A lumbar puncture (also called a spinal tap) is usually done to take a sample of the cerebrospinal (seh-ree-bro-SPY-nuhl) fluid (CSF), the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The CSF will be examined under a microscope to look for bacteria or other infectious agents, and increased numbers of white blood cells indicating inflammation. Antibiotics are not used to treat viral meningitis because it is caused by a virus, not bacteria. Once a case of meningitis is known to be viral, rest and pain medication for body aches and headache can help the person feel better until the infection resolves on its own. Bacterial meningitis requires prompt medical treatment, usually in the hospital. Antibiotics are given to fight the invading organism for at least 2 weeks.

Treatment of complications may require intensive care and other medications. Meningitis that results from other types of infection or other causes is treated with medications, such as antifungal or antiparasitic drugs, and may require hospitalization, especially during the early stages of medical care. Most cases of viral meningitis last 1 to 2 weeks, and most people recover completely. Symptoms from bacterial meningitis can last weeks, and people may have severe complications from the disease, especially if it is not diagnosed and treated promptly. What Complications Can Meningitis Cause? Complications from viral meningitis are not as common as those from bacterial meningitis, but they can include inflammation and swelling of the brain. Sometimes, permanent learning disability and other brain damage can result. * seizures (SEE-zhurs) are sudden bursts of disorganized electrical activity that interrupt the normal functioning of the brain, often leading to uncontrolled movements in the body and sometimes a temporary change in consciousness. * computerized tomography (kom-PYOO-ter-ized toe-MAH-gruh-fee) or CT, also called computerized axial tomography (CAT), is a technique in which a machine takes many X rays of the body to create a three-dimensional picture.

* abscess (AB-ses) is a localized or walled off accumulation of pus caused by infection that can occur anywhere in the body. * sepsis is a potentially serious spreading of infection, usually bacterial, through the bloodstream and body. * shock is a serious condition in which blood pressure is very low and not enough blood flows to the body's organs and tissues. Untreated, shock may result in death. Complications from bacterial meningitis can occur rapidly and be severe, even with quick diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Complications include sepsis * , brain swelling, seizures, shock * , organ failure (such as of the kidneys * ), and death. Up to 15 percent of cases of meningitis caused by meningococcus are fatal. Long-term effects are seen in about 10 percent of those who survive bacterial meningitis and can include hearing loss, seizure disorder, learning disabilities, and other problems resulting from brain injury. Meningitis caused by the bacteria that cause tuberculosis is particularly likely to damage the nervous system. Can Meningitis Be Prevented? Vaccinations against Haemophilus influenzae type b and Streptococcus pneumoniae are now given routinely to American children before the age of 2.

A vaccine against meningococcus is also available, although it is not regularly used in the United States and is not effective in young children. Young people going off to college, especially those who plan to live in a dormitory, should consider getting the vaccine, as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics. It also is recommended for people traveling outside the United States, people living in certain institutional settings, the elderly, and people with some chronic * medical conditions. During outbreaks of bacterial meningitis, especially those caused by meningococcus, in schools, dormitories, or daycare people may be given prophylactic * antibiotics to keep the disease from occurring in those who were in close contact with the infected person. It is difficult to keep viruses such as enteroviruses from spreading from person to person. Risk of viral infection can be decreased by washing hands regularly, especially after using the toilet, and avoiding close contact with anyone who is ill, including not sharing food, eating or serving utensils, razors, or other personal items. * kidneys are the pair of organs that filter blood and remove waste products and excess water from the body in the form of urine.

* chronic (KRAH-nik) means continuing for a long period of time. * prophylactic (pro-fih-LAK-tik) refers to something that is used to prevent an illness or other condition, such as an infection or pregnancy. See also Meningitis | Fungal Meningitis | CDC Fungal Meningitis Español: Meningitis micótica Causes Fungal meningitis is rare and usually caused by fungus spreading through blood to the spinal cord. Although anyone can get fungal meningitis, people with weakened immune systems, like those with an HIV infection or cancer, are at increased risk. The most common cause of fungal meningitis for people with weak immune systems is Cryptococcus. This disease is one of the most common causes of adult meningitis in Africa. How it Spreads Fungal meningitis is not spread from person to person. Fungal meningitis can develop after a fungus spreads through the bloodstream from somewhere else in the body to the brain or spinal cord or from an infection next to the brain or spinal cord.

Investigation of Fungal Meningitis, 2012 In September 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with state and local health departments and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), began investigating a multistate outbreak of fungal meningitis and other infections among patients who received contaminated preservative-free MPA steroid injections from the New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Massachusetts. For more information, see Multistate Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis and Other Infections . You may also get fungal meningitis after taking medications that weaken your immune system . Examples of these medications include steroids (such as prednisone), medications given after organ transplantation, or anti-TNF medications, sometimes given for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune conditions. Different types of fungus are transmitted in several ways. Cryptococcus is thought to be acquired through inhaling soil contaminated with bird droppings. Histoplasma is found in environments with heavy contamination of bird or bat droppings, particularly in the Midwest near the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Blastomyces is thought to exist in soil rich in decaying organic matter in the Midwest United States, particularly the northern Midwest.

Coccidioides is found in the soil of endemic areas (Southwestern US and parts of Central and South America). When these environments are disturbed, the fungal spores (small pieces of fungus) can be inhaled. Meningitis results from the fungal infection spreading from the lungs to the spinal cord. Unlike the fungi above, Candida, which can also cause meningitis, is usually acquired in a hospital setting. Risk Factors Certain diseases, medications, and surgical procedures may weaken the immune system and increase your risk of getting fungal infection, which can lead to fungal meningitis. Premature babies with very low birth weights are also at increased risk for getting Candida blood stream infection, which may spread to the brain. Living in certain areas of the United States may increase your risk for fungal lung infections, which can also cause meningitis. For example, bird and bat droppings in the Midwestern United States may contain Histoplasma, and soil in the Southwestern United States may contain Coccidioides. African Americans, Filipinos, pregnant women in the third trimester, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get Coccidiodes infection, which is also called valley fever.

Altered mental status (confusion) Diagnosis If meningitis is suspected, samples of blood or cerebrospinal fluid (fluid surrounding the spinal cord) are collected and sent to a laboratory for testing. Knowing the specific cause of meningitis is important because the severity of illness and the treatment depend on the cause. To confirm fungal meningitis, specific lab tests can be performed, depending on the type of fungus suspected. Treatment Fungal meningitis is treated with long courses of high dose antifungal medications, usually given through an IV in the hospital. The length of treatment depends on how strong the immune system is and the type of fungus that caused the infection. For people with weak immune systems, like those with AIDS, diabetes, or cancer, treatment is often longer. Prevention No specific activities are known to cause fungal meningitis. Avoid soil and other environments that are likely to contain fungus. People with weak immune systems, like those with HIV infection or cancer, should try to avoid bird droppings and avoid digging and dusty activities, particularly if they live in a geographic region where fungi like Histoplasma, Coccidioides, or Blastomyces exist. HIV-infected people cannot completely avoid exposure.

Meningococcal Meningitis - Meningitis Research Foundation Meningitis Research Foundation Sign up for latest info News and information directly to your inbox: I am from Meningococcal infection is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the UK and Ireland1. Meningococcal bacteria (Neisseria meningitidis) can cause meningitis or septicaemia, or a combination of these diseases. There are several strains or 'groups' of meningococcal bacteria such as A,B,C,W, X and Y. In the past 50 years, most meningococcal disease in the UK and Ireland2has been due to group B (MenB) and group C (MenC), although the MenC vaccine introduced in 1999 has now successfully reduced cases to just a handful each year. Currently MenB accounts for the vast majority of meningococcal disease although we have recently seen an alarming rise in a particularly deadly strain of group W disease . Meningococcal disease affects around 2,000 people in the UK and Ireland every year and about 1500 cases are laboratory-confirmed.

Now that there is a very effective MenC vaccine, 85% of cases are caused by MenB infection3. The disease can affect anyone of any age, but mainly affects babies, pre-school children and young people. Meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia are life-threatening diseases, but most people affected do recover. Septicaemia on its own is more likely to be fatal than meningitis4. Most survivors make a full recovery without long-term after effects, but some are left with disabilities or with problems that can alter their lives. A quarter of survivors find that the effects of the disease reduce their quality of life5. Meningococcal infection is an important cause of illness globally. There are an estimated 1.2 million cases and 135,000 deaths worldwide each year6. Where does meningococcal meningitis come from? The bacteria that cause meningococcal disease are common and live naturally at the back of the nose and throat. Human beings are the only place where meningococcal bacteria can live.

At any one time, one in ten of us carries the bacteria for weeks or months without ever knowing that they are there7, and for most of us this is harmless because, fortunately, most of us have natural resistance. They are passed from person to person through prolonged close contact: coughing, sneezing, breathing each other's breath or by kissing someone who is carrying the germ8. The bacteria are so fragile that they cannot survive for more than a few moments outside the human body. For thisreason, they are not very contagious; they cannot be carried on things like cups, toys, furniture or clothing8. How do you get meningitis and septicaemia? Only a small fraction of people who are exposed to meningococcal bacteria fall ill with the disease. The illness occurs when the bacteria break through the protective lining of the nose and throat, and enter the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, they multiply rapidly, doubling their numbers every 30 minutes. In some people the bacteria cross the blood-brain barrier, causing meningitis. In others, overwhelming septicaemia happens so quickly that there is no time for meningitis to develop. What is septicaemia? Septicaemia is the blood poisoning form of meningococcal disease.

When meningococcal bacteria invade your bloodstream, they produce poisons. This makes you feel ill and feverish, and the poisons begin to attack the lining of your blood vessels, so that they leak. As blood fluids leak from blood vessels throughout your body, the smaller volume of blood that is left is not enough to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Your lungs have to work harder, and in order to maintain circulation to your vital organs, your circulatory system reduces the blood supply to your hands and feet and the surface of your skin. This is how symptoms of septicaemia such as pale skin, cold hands and feet and rapid breathing develop9. As blood leaks into the surrounding tissues, this shows up on the skin as the typical non-blanching meningococcal rash. In most cases, rapid treatment stops the disease from progressing any further. But sometimes the patient becomes very seriously ill by the time treatment starts, and the circulatory system is so overloaded that the patient collapses and needs urgent and aggressive resuscitation. What happens in very severe cases of septicaemia? In very bad cases, septicaemia also causes blood clots to form throughout the network of tiny blood vessels in skin and muscle tissue.

Tissue that is starved of oxygen this way dies and becomes blackened. This can cause widespread scarring, and in extreme cases can lead to amputation. This can also happen within vital organs, like your kidneys, causing kidney failure in very severe cases. In the worst cases, even the best medical treatment cannot stop the disease from progressing and the patient dies. In recent decades, about one in five cases of meningococcal septicaemia has been fatal10, but quicker and better treatment are improving the chances of surviving11. What is meningitis? When you get meningitis, bacteria that have invaded your bloodstream move across to infect your 'meninges' - the membranes that surround and protect your brain and spinal cord. The meninges are filled with a liquid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is there to bathe the brain and cushion it against physical damage when you hit your head. Meningococcal bacteria can multiply freely in CSF, and there they release poisons, causing inflammation and swelling in the meninges and the brain tissue itself. This increases pressure on your brain, producing symptoms of meningitis such as headache, stiff neck and dislike of bright lights.

As the disease progresses, you become drowsy, confused, and delirious, you may have seizures and eventually lose consciousness. What happens in very severe cases of meningitis? In very bad cases, meningitis injures or destroys nerve cells and causes brain damage. This is due to the raised pressure on your brain and the toxic effect of the bacterial poisons on your brain cells, as well as reduced blood supply and formation of blood clots in blood vessels of the brain. All of these things can lead to after effects and disabilities such as epilepsy, learning difficulties, behavioural problems, problems with coordination or speech and movement disorders. These effects may be temporary, but in some cases will be permanent. Sometimes, bacterial poisons also damage part of the inner ear (the cochlea), causing deafness. Meningococcal meningitis is much less likely to produce long-term neurological damage and deafness than other kinds of bacterial meningitis. About one person in twenty with meningococcal meningitis dies from the disease12. Septicaemia and meningitis affect the body in different ways, so they have different sets of symptoms . Who gets meningitis and septicaemia?

About half of meningococcal disease occurs in children aged less than five years13, and babies are at the highest risk because their immune systems have not yet fully developed. There is a second, smaller increase in risk for older adolescents, mainly for social and behavioural reasons14. People with immune deficiencies, such as those without a spleen, are also at a higher risk from infection. Genetic factors play a role, but few of these have a strong effect15. Meningococcal disease in the UK and Ireland is seasonal, with a peak during the winter months. How is meningococcal meningitis treated? Prompt recognition and treatment offer the best chance of a good recovery. A GP who suspects that someone has meningococcal disease will arrange for emergency transfer to hospital, and give antibiotics16or else ensure that antibiotics are given urgently by the ambulance paramedic or as soon as possible on reaching hospital. Meningococcal disease must always be treated in hospital. Treatment may begin immediately if signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease are clear enough. If what is wrong is not clear, the patient may be kept under observation at first.

Along with a physical examination, blood will be taken for tests and the doctor may do a lumbar puncture. Lumbar puncture is important to confirm the diagnosis of meningitis, and to show which germ is causing the illness so that the most appropriate antibiotics can be chosen. If a patient with meningitis is very severely ill, it might not be safe to do a lumbar puncture right away, so this may be postponed. Having the diagnosis confirmed can be helpful afterwards, for example when seeking long-term medical advice and follow-up care. Many patients need resuscitation when they get to hospital: oxygen is given and one or more intravenous lines put in to deliver medicines and resuscitation fluids. Patients with septicaemia may need large amounts of resuscitation fluid to bring their blood volume back to normal. Patients with meningitis may be given steroids to reduce inflammation and other medicines to lower pressure around the brain. Most patients are treated on a regular hospital ward, but the sickest patients will need intensive care treatment: about a quarter of children with meningococcal disease need treatment on a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)17. A patient being treated on a regular paediatric or adult ward will be closely monitored.

The first couple of days and nights may be hectic and disturbed. The patient may be very drowsy or have many short naps, and may be miserable and irritable when awake. The course of antibiotics usually lasts five to seven days17, and so patients who respond well to treatment usually spend about a week in hospital. Some patients recover so quickly that they are able to go home after just a few days, either returning to hospital, or having a community nurse visit for their daily dose of antibiotics. Very sick patients have to be transferred to intensive care. For children, this might mean a journey by mobile intensive care unit or ambulance to a specialist PICU. There, specialist doctors and nurses work around the clock to stabilise the patient and closely monitor their condition. The patient has to be sedated and put on a ventilator to help them breathe, tubes inserted, wires hooked up and connected to monitors, and more intravenous lines put in to deliver medicines that support the function of vital organs such as the heart, lungs and kidneys. Patients with septicaemia who need very large volumes of resuscitation fluid may look very bloated.

However, when they start to recover this fluid will be reabsorbed into the circulation and got rid of through the kidneys. Most intensive care patients begin to improve after a few days and return to the regular wards. But very severely ill patients may have a prolonged stay, for weeks or even months. What happens after meningococcal disease? Most people recover very well from meningococcal disease, with no long term after effects, but about a quarter of survivors are left with problems that reduce their quality of life5. Some of these difficulties are temporary and disappear or improve with time. Behavioural and emotional effects are quite common: children can be clingy and have temper tantrums, adults can feel despondent and irritable. Although these feelings usually resolve themselves, psychological problems can be serious enough to need referral to mental health services or to a counsellor18. Parents of children affected by meningococcal disease may also need this kind of support19. Such a severe illness, especially if there has been a long stay in intensive care, can leave the patient feeling weak and tired and much less active and mobile than before.

They may also have problems with concentration, memory and attention and find it difficult to do tasks that seemed effortless before they became ill. In most cases, these difficulties gradually disappear. What are the severe after effects? Meningitis can cause permanent neurological damage, ranging from minor problems with coordination and movement or mild learning difficulties, to epilepsy, paralysis, palsy and severe mental impairment. Deafness is the most frequent severe after effect of meningitis. Scarring, amputations and organ damage can result from septicaemia. In the first few days of treatment for severe meningococcal disease, it is often impossible to tell whether there will be any permanent damage, but in most cases any serious problems become obvious while the patient is still in hospital. Read more about the after effects. What about follow up care? Once discharged, patients should be followed up and carefully assessed for signs of damage. An individual care plan should be developed for the patient before they leave hospital20to co-ordinate rehabilitation when it is needed. Hearing tests are usually arranged by the hospital, but if a test is not offered it is important to ask for one. Children should have a hearing test within four weeks of being well enough to be tested21.

Occasionally, problems do not become noticeable until later. Learning difficulties and some coordination problems are hard to detect in babies and might not be discovered until a child reaches school age. Teachers should be informed when a child has had meningitis so that educational support can be arranged if necessary20. Children who have had severe septicaemia with scarring or amputations may develop growth problems later on, and their growth should be monitored regularly22. Many people find it helps to talk to someone who has been through a similar experience and the Foundation's helpline team and befriending network are there to talk things over and provide a listening ear. For more detailed information on after effects, see the Foundation's booklet Meningitis and Septicaemia, What Happens Next? Do people who have been in contact with meningococcal meningitis need treatment? Who decides? The risk to contacts is low. Although meningococcal disease is infectious, 97% of cases are isolated, with no links to any other cases16. However, people who live in the same household as someone with meningococcal disease, and intimate kissing contacts (boy/girlfriends) are more at risk than other contacts.

For this reason, these very close contacts of the patient are given antibiotic tablets or syrup, usually rifampicin or ciprofloxacin, to kill the bacteria and help stop the disease from spreading. Usually family members who go with the patient to hospital will get antibiotics there. The local public health doctor then has the job of making sure that any other household or intimate contacts get antibiotics, and usually also tells the nursery or school the patient attends that there has been a case. There is no need to give antibiotics to a wider range of contacts, such as classmates, unless there has been more than one case within a short period of time. The public health doctor follows national guidelines16 when deciding what needs to be done to protect the community. It is important to remember that rifampicin and ciprofloxacin kill the bacteria that live in your nose and throat, but they cannot prevent illness in someone who is already incubating the germs. So even if you are given antibiotics, it is still important to look out for the signs and symptoms of septicaemia and meningitis. References 1.

Health Protection Agency (2007) Statutory Notifications of Infectious Diseases (NOIDs) for England and Wales: provisional 2007 Data Midi-Report. Available: (last accessed December 2008) 2. Davison KL, Ramsay ME. The epidemiology of acute meningitis in children in England and Wales. Arch Dis Child. 2003;88(8):662-4. 3. Health Protection Agency (2007): Isolates, England and Wales, by Region and Group, (by epidemiological year). Available: (last accessed December 2008) 4. Thomson APJ, Riordan FAI. The management of meningococcal disease. Current Paediatrics 2000;10:104-9. 5. Erickson L, De Wals P. Complications and sequelae of meningococcal disease in Quebec, Canada, 1990-1994. Clinical Infectious Diseases 1998; 26:1159-64. 6.

World Health Organization (2001) Epidemics of meningococcal disease, African meningitis belt. Wkly Epidemiol. Rep. 37, 281-8. 7. Cartwright KA, Stuart JM, Jones DM, Noah ND. The Stonehouse survery: nasopharyngeal carriage of meningococci and Neisseria lactamica. Epidemiol Infect 1987;99(3):591-601. 8. Health Protection Agency Meningococcus Forum. Guidance for public health management of meningococcal disease in the UK. August 2006 9. Thompson MJ, Ninis N, Perera R, Mayon-White R, Phillips C, Bailey L, et al. Clinical recognition of meningococcal disease in children and adolescents. Lancet 2006;367:397-403. 10. Davison KL, Crowcroft NS, Ramsay ME, Begg NT, Kaczmarski EB, Stuart JM, White JM, Orr H; Enhanced Surveillance of Meningococcal Disease Project Group.

(2002) Enhanced surveillance scheme for suspected meningococcal disease in five regional health authorities in England: 1998. Commun Dis Public Health 5(3):205-12 11. Booy R, Habibi P, Nadel S, de Munter C, Britto J, Morrison A, Levin M. & Meningococcal Research Group. Reduction in case fatality rate from meningococcal disease associated with improved healthcare delivery. Arch Dis Child 2001;85, 386-390. 12. Shigematsu M, Davison KL, Charlett A, Crowcroft NS. National enhanced surveillance of meningococcal disease in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, January 1999-June 2001. Epidemiol Infect. 2002;129(3):459-70. 13. Health Protection Agency. Notifications of Meningococcal Infections, by age group, England and Wales 1989-2004. (last accessed December 2008) 14.

Tully J, Viner RM, Coen PG, Stuart JM, Zambon M, Peckham C, Booth C, Klein N, Kaczmarski E, Booy R. Risk and protective factors for meningococcal disease in adolescents: matched cohort study. BMJ 2006; 332(7539):445-50. 15. Vermont CL, de Groot R, Hazelzet JA. Bench-to-bedside review: genetic influences on meningococcal disease. Crit Care. 2002;6(1):60-5. 16. Health Protection Agency Meningococcus Forum. Guidance for public health management of meningococcal disease in the UK. August 2006. 17. Davies EG, Elliman DAC, Hart CA, Nicoll A, Rudd PT. Manual of childhood infections. 2nd Edition. 2001 p354. 18. Rees G, Gledhill J, Garralda ME, Nadel S. Psychiatric outcome following paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission: a cohort study. Intensive Care Med.

2004 Aug;30(8):1607-14. 19. Shears D, Nadel S, Gledhill J, Garralda ME. Short-term psychiatric adjustment of children and their parents following meningococcal disease. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2005 Jan;6(1):39-43. 20. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. Management of invasive meningococcal disease in children and young people. Edinburgh: SIGN, 20058. 21. National Deaf Children's Society. Quality Standard in Paediatric Audiology, Vol IV: Guidelines for the Early Identification and the Audiological Management of Children with Hearing Loss. London: National Deaf Children's Society, 2000. 22. Bache CE, Torode IP. Orthopaedic sequelae of meningococcal septicaemia. J Pediatr Orthop. 2006; 26(1):135-9. 23. NHS (2007) immunisation information MenC. What has been the impact of MenC?

Available: (last accessed December 2008). Follow us Meningitis Meningitis Can Meningitis Be Prevented? Meningitis is a word you might hear on the news. That's because there are sometimes outbreaks of meningitis at schools or colleges — and it can be a serious illness. But many people recover completely after they have meningitis and there are ways to prevent it. What Is Meningitis? The central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) is surrounded by cerebrospinal (say: suh-REE-bro-SPY-nul) fluid. This fluid acts to cushion and protect the central nervous system when you move around. Even more protection is given by the meninges (say: muh-NIN-jeez), which are the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis (say: men-un-JYE-tus) is a disease involving inflammation (swelling), or irritation, of the meninges. There are different kinds of meningitis, but most of the time it is caused by germs, especially viruses. Meningitis gets attention because it not only makes a person feel sick, it can have lasting effects on a person's ability to think and learn.

It also can cause hearing loss. But many people recover from the infection without permanent damage. And the illness is so rare, you may never know anyone who gets it. How Does Someone Get Meningitis? The body has natural defenses against infections — and usually even if someone comes across a virus or bacteria that can cause meningitis, the body can fight it off. Everyone has lots of germs living on and in their bodies. Most of the time, these germs don't cause any illness. In fact, some of them, like some of the bacteria normally found in the intestines, help the body to work properly. However, some germs do cause infections. If a person gets an infection, the body's immune system will go to work to fight it. That's why you might feel sick one day, but then you start to feel better. The immune system is doing its job. Some germs, however, are tricky. They can outsmart the body's defenses and spread inside of the body. Some of these germs can even invade the central nervous system, infecting the meninges and causing meningitis. continue Bacteria and Viruses Many viruses can cause viral meningitis.

They include a family of viruses known as enteroviruses (say: en-TEH-row-VYE-rus-ez). Like most viruses, enteroviruses infect your body through saliva (spit), feces (poop), and nasal discharge (snot). This is why washing your hands after you go to the bathroom, after you sneeze, and before you eat is so important. It's also possible to get viral meningitis as a complication of chickenpox , but this is also very rare in healthy kids. These days, many kids are vaccinated with two shots to prevent chickenpox before starting school. Bacterial meningitis is contagious, which means it can be passed to someone else by spit or snot. It can be spread when you sneeze or cough, when you share cups or utensils, or when you kiss someone. Vaccines are given to kids to help protect them from serious diseases like meningitis. What Are the Symptoms of Meningitis? Usually, someone with meningitis is very sick.

Symptoms may include: a very bad headache that won't go away neck stiffness feeling very sleepy or unable to fully wake up feeling very confused or out of it Symptoms of meningitis can come on very quickly or take a couple of days to appear. Anyone who is ill with symptoms of meningitis needs to seek medical care right away. previous continue What Will the Doctor Do? When someone is ill and may have symptoms of meningitis, a doctor will ask many questions to figure out how long the person has been sick and what might have caused the illness. The doctor will do a complete physical examination and if he or she suspects that meningitis might be causing a person's illness, a spinal tap is usually done. A spinal tap allows the doctor to collect some of the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. During a spinal tap, a person usually lies on his or her side curled into a ball. First, the doctor will numb the skin with medication. (This is done to prevent pain.) The person needs to lie very still while the doctor inserts a very thin needle into the spinal column. The needle is placed between two vertebral bones in the lower back away from the spinal cord. Fluid is removed and collected in some tubes.

Then the needle is removed and the doctor puts a bandage over the area. After it is collected, the spinal fluid will be examined under a microscope to see if any bacteria, cells, or substances that indicate inflammation or infection are there. Usually by looking at the spinal fluid in this way, a doctor will be able to tell if someone has meningitis. The fluid will also be sent to a laboratory to be tested for bacteria and sometimes for viruses. Once the doctors know what germ is causing the meningitis, they can choose the best medicine to treat the infection. Treatment depends on the type of meningitis. Bacterial meningitis is very serious and a person will need to be in the hospital during treatment. Strong antibiotic medicine will be given through an IV (a thin tube that goes into a vein to give medicine) to get rid of the bacteria. Fluids containing glucose (sugar) and minerals may also be given through the IV to help a person recover. Viral meningitis can also be serious, but usually is not as bad as meningitis caused by bacteria. Someone with viral meningitis may still need to be in the hospital for a few days and it may take weeks before he or she is feeling better.

Antibiotics do not work against viruses, so a person with viral meningitis will need lots of rest to fight off the infection. previous continue Can Meningitis Be Prevented? If someone gets bacterial meningitis in your neighborhood or school, doctors will want to know who was in close contact with this person. Close contact means living with or spending a lot of time with the person, or sharing the same utensils or cups. This is important because people who have been in close contact may need antibiotics for a few days, just in case they were infected with the bacteria, too. The antibiotic may help prevent them from developing meningitis. But antibiotics won't prevent sickness if a virus caused the meningitis. If you've had all your vaccinations, they will help protect you from getting meningitis. But there's another way to prevent those germs from getting inside your body: Wash your hands. Wash up regularly with warm, soapy water — especially before eating, after using the bathroom, and whenever your hands are dirty. It's also smart to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Then — you guessed it — wash your hands!

Meningitis - Neurological Disorders - Nervous System Disorders - Online Health Library - University of Miami Health System What is meningitis? Click Image to Enlarge Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that surround the brain. There are three meninges, including the following: dura mater - the outside membrane that adheres to the inside of the skull. arachnoid - the middle membrane. pia mater - the innermost membrane, which adheres to the brain. What causes meningitis? There are two distinct types of meningitis, each with different causes: viral - caused by a virus Viral meningitis is more common than bacterial meningitis, although rarely life threatening. Viral meningitis can be caused by different viruses, and is spread between people by coughing or sneezing, or through poor hygiene. Other germs can be found in sewage polluted water. Viral meningitis cannot be helped by antibiotics. Recovery is normally complete, but headaches, fatigue, and depression may persist. bacterial - caused by a bacterium Bacterial meningitis, although rare, may be fatal.

Bacteria may be spread through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions, such as coughing and kissing, but they cannot live outside the body for long. They cannot be picked up from water supplies, swimming pools, buildings, etc. Many species of bacteria can cause meningitis. Below are four types: neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) Meningococcus is common in children two to 18 years of age, and 2,600 cases are reported annually in the U.S. It is spread by respiratory droplets and close contact. For unknown reasons, only a small fraction of carriers develop meningitis. Meningococcal meningitis occurs most often in the first year of life, but may also occur in closed populations, such as schools. streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) Pneumococcus is the most common and most serious form of bacterial meningitis, and accounts for 6,000 cases annually in the U.S. Those at high risk may include persons with weakened immune systems. Haemophilus influenzae b The development of the Haemophilus influenzae b vaccine has drastically decreased the number of cases in the U.S.

Children who do not have access to the vaccine and those in day-care centers are at high risk of acquiring Haemophilus meningitis. Listeria monocytogenes Listeria monocytogenes has become a more frequent cause of meningitis in neonates, pregnant women, persons over the age of 60, and in persons of all ages who are immunocompromised. How does the infection reach the brain? The infection can reach the brain via several different routes, including through the bloodstream from another infected part of the body, through the bones of the skull from infected sinuses or inner ears, or from a head injury, such as a fractured skull or penetrating wound. In particular, this occurs when the body's resistance is compromised by certain factors such as following surgery or an extended hospitalization, a weakened immune system, or as a result of chronic kidney failure. What are the symptoms of meningitis? The following are the most common symptoms of meningitis. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include: fever photophobia (low tolerance to bright light) confusion arching back difficult to wake It is important to note that these symptoms may not occur all at once, nor in everyone who contracts meningitis.

The symptoms of meningitis may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis. How is meningitis diagnosed? In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic procedures for meningitis may include the following: lumbar puncture (spinal tap) - a special needle is placed into the lower back, into the spinal canal. This is the area around the spinal cord. The pressure in the spinal canal and brain can then be measured. A small amount of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) can be removed and sent for testing to determine if there is an infection or other problems. CSF is the fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord. blood testing computed tomography scan (Also called a CT or CAT scan.) - a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images (often called slices), both horizontally and vertically, of the body. A CT scan shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs. CT scans are more detailed than general x-rays.

Treatment for meningitis: Specific treatment for meningitis will be determined by your physician based on: your age, overall health, and medical history extent of the disease Treatment may include: bacterial meningitis Treatment for bacterial meningitis usually involves intravenous (IV) antibiotics. The earlier the treatment is initiated, the better the outcome. While steroid administration has been shown to be helpful in treating bacterial meningitis in infants and children, this treatment is used less frequently in adults. Dexamethasone, a type of steroid, may be given in more acute cases of bacterial meningitis, to decrease the inflammatory response caused by the bacteria. viral meningitis Treatment for viral meningitis is usually supportive (aimed at relieving symptoms). With the exception of the herpes simplex virus, there are no specific medications to treat the organisms that cause viral meningitis. fungal meningitis

Question: What part of the human body is affected by meningitis?
Answer: Brain